Toyo Sponsors World Cup Ski Jump Final
Toyo tyres is sponsor of the World Final of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, which will take place in Planica, Slovenia between 19 and 22 March through Slovenian distributor, Span. According to the tyre company, the final is the biggest sports event in Slovenia attracting an audience of over 57,000 in 2008. In addition, two million viewers watch the final on TV around the World. Competitors come not just from the traditional Scandinavian countries but from all over Europe and beyond including Russia and Japan. Sponsorship brings with it coverage from the giant signs (positioned to give the brand maximum publicity) and TV time on most of the major TV channels broadcasting in Europe including the BBC, CNN and Eurosport.
Continue ReadingKumho Wins Russian Magazine Tyre Test
Kumho tyres have won a respected magazine tyre test for the second year in a row. Russian publication Za Rulem declared the Kumho Solus KH17 as outright winner of Za Rulems test of 15 major tyre brands. The extensive trial encompassed all key disciplines including: braking, steering response, safety, noise level, fuel consumption and wear resistance on both wet and dry roads. Kumhos Solus KH17 is strongly recommended and boasts excellent performance in all weather conditions as well as remarkable fuel efficiency. Kumhos second consecutive victory in our annual test proves last years result was well deserved,” Za Rulem commented. The Korean manufacturer also won considerable acclaim in a similarly comprehensive comparison of major tyre brands run by Germanys ADAC motorwelt.
Continue ReadingBT-016 Selected as Sole OE for Triumph’s Best Selling Bike
Bridgestone’s Battlax BT-016 tyre has been chosen as original equipment (OE) for Triumph’s best seller -the Street Triple. As of this month Bridgestone reports that it has 100 per cent share of OE on the model which, like the BT-016 tyre itself, has been recognised for revolutionising its class. This latest announcement tops what has been a successful year for the BT-016. The tyre, which successfully transferred Bridgestone’s five-layer compound technology, usually used to produce hand-made MotoGP tyres, onto the production line for the first time, has received plaudits from riders and racers alike.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Ends American Motocross Involvement
Bridgestone Americas has announced that 2009 will be its last season of involvement in the AMA Supercross and Motocross season, due to finish in September. The decision was made due to the worldwide financial crisis, the company said in a statement, while the door was left open for a return in the future. The decision ends an 18-season supply agreement for the series. Bob Graham, BATO’s senior manager, motorcycle products was keen to let competitors know that the company remained committed to its 2009 season. “While we have made this decision somewhat early in the season, rest assured that riders on Bridgestone brand tyres can expect the same level of performance and service throughout 2009 to which they have been accustomed,” he said. “Even though we are ceasing our involvement for the time being, the Bridgestone brand has left an indelible mark in the world of off-road motorcycle racing,” concluded Graham.
Continue ReadingTopeka Plant Needs $38 million State Aid: Goodyear
Goodyear has told Kansas state that it needs $38 million state aid if 700 jobs are to be saved at its Topeka plant. The manufacturer says that it needs to spend $250 million to upgrade its machinery in order to build large OTR tyres. The proposal will come before the Senate after the company’s presentation on Monday to a House committee. Goodyear hopes to be added to a bill including incentives for wind and solar equipment manufacturers relocating in the state. Goodyear has reason to be optimistic about the success of its bid: the company is Topeka’s largest employer and in 2002 it received $10 million in incentives to keep the company operating in its current location and on the condition that it would spend a further $50 million there – the company would go on to invest $124 million there.
Continue ReadingThe Trade Group Introduces New “Trademaster” Additions
Garage equipment specialist The Trade Group has introduced a new selection of wheel care equipment to its Trademaster range, including a new fully automatic tyre changer and a wheel balancer, designed in conjunction with Hofmann Megaplan. The company is a major distributor for Hofmann Megaplan and Beissbarth wheel care products in the UK, and is introducing new products to complement its range. Its Trademaster selection now contains products to suit many sizes of garage and tyre shop. Representative of The Trade Group Steve Bullworthy explained the roles of the new additions: “The new Trademaster T2510 fully automatic tyre changer is designed to offer performance combined with versatility. An air operated tilt back column speeds set-up time whilst the turntable offers 24” clamping to accommodate the biggest wheels. If you need to deal with stiff, low profile or run-flat tyres there is a powerful, pneumatically operated robotic arm, T2510/1, which can be supplied initially or retro-fitted.
Continue ReadingMedicine Hat Goodyear to Shut Temporarily
The Goodyear plant in Medicine Hat, Canada – to the East of Calgary – has announced that it will shut down production temporarily next month. The factory will shut for one week, starting on 13 April. The plant is also set to lose 35 full-time jobs on 28 March, while it recently cut its working week to five days. The company says that stagnant demand and a struggling automotive sector have led to the decision, while plant manager Mike MacGregor has quashed rumours that staff numbers could be cut by a further 40-50, though he told local newspaper the Medicine Hat News that there is a possibility that the plant will shave another day off its already-curtailed working week. “What we’re trying to do is protect the remaining workforce,” he concluded.
Continue ReadingRMA Believes Worst Not Over as US Shipments Fall Further
RMA says that 2009 US tyre shipments will fall more than 7 per cent, a sharp drop that follows a 9 per cent overall decrease in 2008. RMA projects that total tyre shipments will decline by some 21 million units to 261 million tyres, “a level last experienced in 1993 and approximately 60 million units fewer than the 321 million unit peak in 2000,” the group said. The fall-off is driven by “continued erosion of consumer confidence, higher unemployment, depressed auto sales, a decline in vehicle miles travelled and downward revisions in domestic economic conditions for both the consumer and commercial sectors,” RMA said in a statement. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingPall-Ex Chooses CSEasy Tyres
Pall-Ex has switched its forklift truck fleet to Continental CSEasy tyres. Pall-Ex’s headquarters in Ellistown in Leicestershire operates 36 fork lift trucks running on a 24 hour shift operation. Barloworld in partnership with Continental Tyres introduced the new, award winning CSEasy to the site and the results have reportedly shown a number of key benefits for Pall-Ex. Tony Mellor, commercial director, said: ”Both tyre punctures and truck downtime were a real concern for us at Pall-Ex. The CSEasy tyre can be mounted and demounted without the use of a press, safely in the on-site Barloworld workshop. This saves us costly downtime and the need for expensive equipment. It also means that we are able to change tyres 24/7 keeping our operation moving round the clock.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Dons Red for Comic Relief
Friday 13 March saw Goodyear employees and visitors to the company’s West Midlands sites show support for Comic Relief and Red Nose Day by donning red clothes and participating in a range of money-raising activities. The tyre maker not only hosted a dress down day, cake sales, competitions and raffles; a visit from business forum Vistage. Consisting of a group of specially selected chief executives who share experience and knowledge in order to develop their own and members businesses, Vistage members were showcasing best practice information, including a focus on the Goodyear Dunlop’s successful Dunlop Motorsport operations. Delegates took an exclusive tour of Dunlop Motorsport’s Birmingham factory, seeing at first hand the manufacturing process and business methods used to produce the segment’s championship winning car and motorbike tyres for series such as the British Touring Car Championship, Le Mans and Motor GP.
Continue ReadingR H Claydon Relocates Scunthorpe Warehouse
R H Claydon has announced that it has relocated its Scunthorpe wholesale warehouse operation. R H Cladon has occupied a location in the Flixborough Industrial Estate since 1990 and has now “well out grown the site [and] moved to a larger location on the same industrial park.” The new branch occupies some 43,000 square feet and is served by a newly built loading bay to handle container traffic. This warehouse will better serve an expanded area that runs from the East Midlands north and east to the Scottish Border. The location is said to have a larger holding capacity that will initially serve five delivery vans. This and the company’s other sales and service branches (at Bury St Edmunds, Swindon, Stockport and Falkirk) stock passenger, van, 4X4, light and heavy truck, agricultural, construction, industrial, small implement, Turf and ATV tyres – not to mention tubes and more.
Continue ReadingTeen Drivers Get Lessons from Michelin, Tire Rack
Michelin North America teamed with Tire Rack last weekend on a special teen driver instruction program at its test track in Laurens, South Carolina. Thirty teenage drivers attended a comprehensive day-long course with a certified Tire Rack Street Survival driving coach, learning real-world vehicle control techniques. Students practiced vehicle maneuvering through acceleration, turning and braking exercises, and received classroom instruction as well. Street Survival was formed in April 2002 by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation. Tire Rack signed on as a title sponsor in 2006. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingNew All-Season Line from Toyo
Toyo Tire USA has launched the Extensa A/S, an all-season line targeting family cars and minivans. The new product features Toyo’s Tmode computer design technology, a symmetrical, non-directional tread design for easy rotation and tread life, shoulder ribs connected to shoulder blocks for stability, four circumferential grooves for stability and water dispersion, and full-depth multi-wave sipes to fight irregular wear and for all weather traction. Available initially in 19 different 13- to 17-inch sizes, the Extensa A/S has a UTQG rating of 620 AB for its S- and T-rated sizes, and 360 AA for H-rated sizes. Another 27 sizes will be added later this year, Toyo said. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingAccuride Names Interim CFO
James Woodward Jr. has joined Accuride as interim senior vice president and CFO. He replaces David Armstrong, who is leaving the company to accept an assignment with his church. Most recently Woodward served as executive vice president, CFO and treasurer of Joy Global Inc. (Tie Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingYokohama USA to Introduce Eco-Friendly GT3 Tyre
Yokohama has announced that it will introduce a series-wide environmentally-friendly race tyre in the GT3 Challenge. Mark Chung, the company’s US director, corporate strategy and planning, stated, “The orange oil technology is extremely exciting for our race programme; reducing petroleum inputs by approximately 10 per cent and increasing recyclability while maintaining the high performance levels of previous race slick compounds.”
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